STRING 2030 Vision and Strategy
Content
Introduction.......................................................................................................................... 3 The Vision............................................................................................................................. 5 What is our story in 2030?................................................................................................... 5 Our Partnership.................................................................................................................... 7 Our priorities......................................................................................................................... 9 Infrastructure.................................................................................................................... 9 Green Growth ............................................................................................................... 12 Science and research.................................................................................................... 15 Tourism and culture....................................................................................................... 17 Barriers for cross border cooperation............................................................................ 18
STRING 2030 Vision and Strategy
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Introduction The political cooperation between the five STRING partners: Region Skåne, Capital Region of Denmark, Region Zealand, Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg see the establishing of a new, modern and efficient transport corridor between Öresund and Hamburg as an opportunity to develop cooperation and strive for a mutual development of a sustainable, strong growth region in the Western Baltic Sea Area.
The STRING partners are Hamburg and SchleswigHolstein in Germany, the Capital Region of Denmark and Region Zealand in Denmark, and Region Skåne in Sweden.
PICTURE: STRING
The STRING region is one of Europe’s strongest economies, and home to 8,3 million inhabitants. However, the development of the region to a large extent depends on internal cooperation to assure that regional priorities and strengths are aligned and not in competition with each other, in order to create a better, more environmentally sound and enriching future for the regions inhabitants. It is thus the role of STRING to assure that regional priorities and policies are coordinated and lifted onto a national and European agenda, providing the added value of five strong regions working together. We call it the STRINGdimension. In particular, STRING wishes to develop tourism and culture, business opportunities and cooperation, work for an integrated labourmarket and free education across borders, support research and green growth and encourage business and academics to further develop our key competences. We want to create an attractive region for its inhabitants, visitors, investors and researchers and be one of the frontrunners in climate smart solutions and industry.
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We want to be an admired example of societies developing a sustainable growth regime and we want to share our knowledge in functional partnerships with our neighboring regions and cities. We want to create an open dialogue and an open forum for exchange of know-how to the benefit of this Globe and its population. In order to promote these strong policies and beliefs, we need to focus and clearly communicate our ambitions and methods of achieving these. This is why we have developed the strategies below that support our vision and explain our fields of joint work.
Picture: www.pixelio.de
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The Vision Our vision is that the STRING region will be the driver behind a North European green growth corridor consisting of the STRING region in a functional partnership with our neighbouring regions. The corridor will be a green European powerhouse; a strong strategic axis contributing to knowledge, growth, welfare and sustainability in Northern Europe, including the Baltic Sea Region.
What is our story in 2030?
PICTURE: STRING
The fixed link across the Fehmarnbelt between Denmark and Germany is one of the world’s system-changing mega projects. The change to infastructure and accessibility generated by the link has the potential to create new economic, cultural and social developments in the regions and countries surrounding the link. The future benefits are considerable. A way of giving this general statement some content, and to illustrate the vision, is to give some of the stories that we want to be told about the STRING area in 2030: • We are scoring high on any list concerning quality of life, wellbeing and happiness in general. We have a well educated, healthy population that lives longer than average in Europe. • We have welfare systems, well balanced between the responsibility of the individual and the society. STRING 2030 Vision and Strategy
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• We have an efficient and fast transport system between the cities in Scandinavia and Hamburg which means that rail has become very competitive towards air and road both for transport of passengers and goods. • We have set new standards for sustainable development and have created a protocol for green growth for cities and regions. • We are among the world leaders in material science. • We have strong positions within life science, cleantech, wind, green technology, heating, energy reduction and production. • We are among Europe´s leading logistic centers and developers of efficient and sustainable solutions for the transport sector. • We have developed a close cooperation between both the maritime and the airline industries and researchers in Northern Europe and are very competitive, innovative and energy-efficient in these sectors. • We have an extensive interaction between the cultural sectors of our regions, between artists and performers and we have awards winning cooperation between Swedish, Danish and German film and TV producers. • We are an attractive destination for large cultural- and sports events and have already attracted several international championships and festivals. • We have a powerful common tourist and inward investment brand that creates attention world wide.
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Our Partnership
STRING is a political cooperation between equal partners. We share the same values and understanding of modern welfare societies, and we see growth and sustainability as two main prerequisites safeguarding the future development and prosperity of our societies. STRING work as a group, a strong region with 8,3 million inhabitants and among the most competent and powerful regions in Europe. In this respect we have a strong voice in the EU and in our national parliaments.
Malmö are the most populated cities in the STRING area. The administrative areas with least inhabitants are to be found
Population figures (2010) Number of persons
Hamburg, Copenhagen and
in the north eastern part of
3.000.000 2.500.000 2.000.000 1.500.000
Scania.
1.000.000 500.000 0
Capital Region
Region Zealand Schleswig-Holstein
Hamburg
Scania
* Notice that figures for Scania is 2009 figures Source: Statistics Denmark, Statistics Sweden and Statistisches Bundesamt Deutschland
PICTURE: STRING
measured as gross region product per capita, is highest
Gross regional product per capita - 2009 EUR
The standard of living,
in the Capital Region in
60.000 50.000
Denmark and in Hamburg
40.000
reflecting the placement of the
30.000
two largest cities in the region. Schleswig-Holstein is the part
20.000
of the region with the lowest
10.000
gross product per capita.
0 Capital Region
Region Zealand
Schleswig-Holstein
Hamburg
Scania
Source: Eurostat
PICTURE: STRING
Denmark and Hamburg are the economical centers of the region with a gross regional product which amounts to more than 80.000 million EUR per year.
Gross regional product (2009) Mio. EUR
The Capital Region in
90.000 80.000 70.000 60.000 50.000 40.000 30.000 20.000 10.000 0
Capital Region
Region Zealand Schleswig-Holstein
Hamburg
Scania
Source: Statistics Denmark, Statistics Sweden and Statistisches Bundesamt Deutschland
PICTURE: STRING
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Within the STRING region we have several bilateral and trilateral cooperations, such as the Öresund Committee and the Femern Belt Committee, who – together with other cooperation’s with one, two or three partners, be it private or public sector, or a mix - work alongside and in coordination with the STRING activities. We will also have mutual partnerships with other regions, cities, organisations and competences in Northern Europe, including the Baltic Sea Area, where we will develop cooperations, projects and partnerships supporting the development of the whole area and our priorities.
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Our priorities
The activities of the STRING cooperation are built on five strong partners, their policies, their priorities and their competences and capacities. STRING and the common activities are integrated parts of the partners’ policies, objectives and strategies.
Picture: www.pixelio.de
In order to focus the tasks that we want to undertake in STRING to achieve the promises laid down in the vision, we have chosen five areas that we want to develop within the STRING cooperation:
Infrastructure The illustration demonstrates the current plans for the corridor between the Öresund region and Hamburg.
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New and better infrastructure sparks the development of the areas where the infrastructure is built. A new link creates growth in itself due to better mobility but the result of the investment can be optimised by looking into the quality of the infrastructure, the interconnectivity of transport modes, the relation to the surrounding society and economy – and in general by eliminating barriers and improving information. But it starts with the new infrastructure: the quality of the infrastructure is decisive for the development in the society. The mobility of goods and people are competitive parameters when investors look at the map of Europe, and the mobility of the workforce is another competitive advantage that comes out of an excellent infrastructure.
Oslo Stockholm Gothenburg
Copenhagen
Hamburg
London
Amsterdam
Malmö
Berlin
Köln
Paris
The STRING-corridor seen in the conjunction with the corridors towards Oslo and Stockholm (PICTURE: STRING).
As the internal infrastructure is important, the contact to other parts of the world is also decisive: maintaining and increasing international air routes are crucial if we want to be seen as an international hub. Therefore the internal infrastructure has to support the catchment areas for the airports.
of the potential accessibility of people and high value freight to an area. Copenhagen Airport and Hamburg Airport are the two big airports in the STRING area with
Number of passengers on national and international flights Millions
International air traffic is a sign
25
International flights National flights
20
15
10
respectively 23 million and 14 million passengers. A major part of the passengers at Copenhagen Airport are at international flights.
5
0 Copenhagen
Roskilde
Malmö Lufthavn
Ängelholm Helsingborg
Hamburg
Lübeck
Source: Eurostat
PICTURE: STRING
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The northern part of Germany is dominant regarding freight
Freight turnover at regional ports
turnover at harbours. Port of Hamburg is the largest harbor in the STRING area and has experienced a remarkable growth of 20 procent in freight turnover in the period of 2002 to 2010.
2002 2010
Trelleborg Malmö Helsingborg Ystad Aarhus Rødby Copenhagen Elsinore Køge Gedser Hamburg Bremerhaven Wilhelmshaven Rostock Luebeck Bremen Brunsbüttel Puttgarden Kiel Sassnitz 0
20.000
40.000
60.000
80.000
100.000
120.000
Source: Eurostat PICTURE: STRING
Being able to hand shipments, be it on ships, rail, road or air, with the lowest possible transfer cost is another competitive edge where cooperation between planners in the private and public sector has to be close and efficient. Therefore the economic and the environmental development of the STRING corridor are heavily dependent on a modern, fast and competitive infrastructure. Mobility is the key word for developing a common labor market but also for the integration in all other aspects of life both for individual citizens but also for business – and for attracting researchers to the area to use the facilities concentrated around Hamburg and Copenhagen/ Lund. Environmentally fast access on rail for both passengers and goods is essential. Faster connection between centers will reduce the use of air and road transport – and an efficient rail system is vital for the national and European objectives of more goods on rail. In order to ensure the international competitiveness for our metropolis it is essential that fast trains are connected to the airports of Copenhagen and Hamburg in order to maintain and develop the international net of destinations reached from this part of Europe. Here, the catchment areas for the airports are essential.
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The role of STRING: STRING sees it as our role to ensure the best possible quality of the infrastructure in the corridor between Hamburg and the Öresund Region. The final design of rail and road through the corridor will take place during the next 1-2 years and will determine the infrastructure in this part of Europe for the next 25-30 years. STRING sees this across borders where normal planners work nationally or regionally. STRING is working with analysis and networks to be able to prepare political statements, advising the regional politicians on what decisions to make in aid of an accessible and mobile infrastructure corridor.
Green Growth As much as we in STRING see growth as the only alternative for developing our societies, we also feel the obligation to use all our knowledge to create a sustainable growth regime that both respects the environment and the inhabitants. We want to develop the way we think in our economies towards a climate friendly production and consumption.
Picture: www.pixelio.de
In order to claim that we do this we want to establish a framework where we can reform the traditional way that economies evolve – and to find new measurements of our success. The economic and financial structure of the STRING region is dominated by the two centers: Copenhagen and Hamburg. Small as they are in a European context measured by inhabitants they are both very strong when it comes to economic output measured in GNP. In other areas of the STRING geography we see relatively low density in population and GNP levels below the EU average. STRING 2030 Vision and Strategy
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The workforce amounts to a
Number of people in the workforce (2010)
the workforce is high and the
1.200.000 1.000.000
day care facilities for smaller
800.000
children are good.
600.000 400.000 200.000 0
Capital Region
Region Zealand Schleswig-Holstein
Hamburg
Scania*
* Notice that figures for Scania is 2009 figures Source: Statistics Denmark, Statistics Sweden and Statistisches Bundesamt Deutschland PICTURE: STRING
The workforce comprises both the employed and unemployed. One aspect common for all three national components of the STRING area is the fact that the proportion of the workforce in relation to the population is highest around the major cities.
100%
Public and private services
90% 80%
Financial and business service
70% 60% 40%
Restaurant, hotel, retail trade and transport industries
30%
Construction
20%
Manufacturing industry
50%
Scania
Region Zealand
Capital Region
Hamburg
0%
SchleswigHolstein
10% The region
Share of workforce employed in industry
Employment - industry breakdown
Scania
model. The share of women in
1.400.000
Region Zealand
reflection of the Nordic welfare
Capital Region
German part. This picture is a
1.600.000
Hamburg
of the STRING area than in the
Number of persons
the Danish and Swedish part
SchleswigHolstein
larger part of the population in
Agriculture, Fishing and Forestry
Source: Ørestat and Statistisches Bundesamt Deutschland PICTURE: STRING
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Measured by occupation the largest sectors in STRING are private and public services, followed by trade, restaurants and transport, financial services and last: industry. Agriculture,fishery and related industries are also of importance in the area. The mix of the sectors of course varies considerably across the STRING region. In STRING we see growth as a tool to ensure the development of our societies. We also see the interaction between the centers and the peripheries as prosperous development for the benefit of all parties. Our economies are internationally orientated, our orientation is global and we actively seek international partnerships. In the regions and cities of the STRING area we see excellent examples of sustainable planning, in our industries we have world leaders in tools, instruments and equipment to reduce CO2 emissions and achieve energy savings, and our population is well aware and acting in order to reduce climate change. At our universities and schools we have world class experts in all the relevant fields. Thus we have all the fundamentals to challenge ourselves to create a coherent, sustainable growth regime in the STRING area as part of a common political plan – based on and implemented by the five partners of STRING.
The role of STRING: The role of STRING is to suggest strategies that support sustainability and economic growth. We want to be frontrunners in a political process that goes beyond the STRING area to the respective countries and the EU - and maybe further. We want to develop tools to prove achievements in the fight against climate change and at the same time have growth. We want to use this process as a unique selling point for the area and given the policies and the competences in the STRING regions and cities we really have something to offer the world here. We want to arrange international workshops, seminars and conferences in order to share knowledge with other engaged people, politicians, experts and NGO´s likewise.
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Science and research
Picture: www.pixelio.de
Science and research is the strategic tool that keeps a society developing and growing. Having the best research institutions, the smoothest cooperation between research, industry and public sector – and having a society and environment that is attractive for talent from all over the world, is therefore an investment in future growth and prosperity. Within the academic and research worlds in Sweden, Denmark and Germany, there is a wide range of collaboration opportunities. Some of these are linked to the industry clusters, but partnerships within the field of material science are already emerging between ESS in Lund/Copenhagen and DESY in Hamburg. This will be a model for future scientific cooperation in other sectors. Seen in an international perspective the universities and the academic activity in the STRING area varies. Neither are in the international top 10, but the Öresund region is rather strong in Europe measured by scientific output , whereas the North German Universities have a lower ranking. By joining forces all parties may benefit from a more powerfull position on the international research scene. In certain sectors we are outstanding and have complementary competences in the region that needs to be explored. The universities in the region are very internationally orientated and work with researchers worldwide. In certain sectors we also have research and development in the private sector that is world class, and especially in all types of life science, medicine, renewable energy, heating and environmentally sound city and housing projects we are very strong and have developed a cross fertilizing process between research institutions, public sector
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and industries. A lot of the cooperation has been developed in the Öresund region, in Sweden, Denmark and Germany respectively – but if we start a process of crossing the Swedish-Danish-German competence borders the possibility of new ideas, products and development is certain within the core competences of the region:
• Material Science • Life Science • Cleantech • Transportation and logistics • Food Industry • Media Industry • Tourism
The role of STRING: STRING sees it as our role to facilitate meetings, contacts and cooperation between researchers, universities, businesses and public interests – and ”tell the story” about the competences in the region. To create the ”brain-brand” that will attract researchers, investors, companies and be generally attractive both internally and externally. As such, STRING aims to act as a facilitator, bringing together science and innovation clusters and networks to debate a joint STRING regional strategy for cooperation and shared priorities.
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Tourism and culture The objective of STRING is to create integration, cultural, economic and social exchange that will benefit the inhabitants and the development of the region.
Picture: www.pixelio.de
To release the full potential of an integration process sparked by the new infrastructure between Öresund and Hamburg, two prerequisites have to be improved for the individual citizen: knowledge about and feeling comfortable in Sweden, Denmark and Germany, respectively. These prerequisites are vital if you want to try a new job in another country, if you want to do business, study, exchange know-how with colleagues, fall in love or move to another place. Starting a tradition of visiting each other’s countries is the first small step toward enlarging your comfort zone. Tourist attractions, events and culture are all drivers for this when they are marketed. The role of STRING: STRINGs role in the process is to inspire, change the framework and encourage bi- and multilateral cooperation in many areas that forms the individual knowledge to use the potentials of the new region. Tourism as a business-sector is also very important in all parts of STRING, and therefore the ambition to generate an integrated region via culture, tourism and marketing goes hand in hand with developing the tourist industry in the region. STRING 2030 Vision and Strategy
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This is why STRING has taken the initiative to establish the STRING Tourism Network and together with partners from the network have started the project “Building Tourism” in order to develop and improve the internal “exchange” of tourists and create a new, stronger destination for the world. The project will result in a catalogue of future activities and cooperation that will be developed mutual, bilateral and in cooperation with INTERREG. At this early stage of integration visiting each other is a good way to start feeling more comfortable on “the other side”. In that process culture is both educational but also a very strong attractor for visitors and therefore the cultural exchange and marketing is essential for the process. Part of this “educational” process of integration is of course also the media and intensive information efforts regarding labor-market, housing, business etc. to be undertaken by mutual organisations and individuals in the coming years.
Barriers for cross border cooperation Participants in an integration process will meet a huge amount of obstacles and barriers. Some will be of a more personal character,such as lack of knowledge and understanding, language or simply that the individual does not see the added value in going out of the usual circles. But others are of a more tangible kind: differences in laws and regulations for example for doing business, working or being a supplier of services or goods. All the three involved nations have their own rules and regulations for all actions in their respective societies and although a lot of the legislation is agreed upon as EU-legislations there will be countless regulations and practicalities that obstruct coexistence across the borders. The Öresund Committee and the Femern Belt Committee as well as the cooperation between Region South Denmark and Schleswig-Holstein have long worked at solving such formal barriers; and with good results. Hopefully that work will go on in order to ease the integration process. The role of STRING: STRINGs role in this is to support the already established cooperation in this field – and, if needed, to bring attention to the problems together with the other organizations. As such, STRING aims to build on the work already carried out by the the work already carried out by the Öresund Committee, the Femern Belt Committee and the cooperation across the German and Danish land borders, in order to present one joint agenda for solving crossborder obstacles.
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As it is mentioned above the integration process will have different steps towards a closer coexistence when the fixed link opens. The closer we get, the more attention this part of the integration process will get – including much more intensive cross border information initiatives. STRINGs role in this is not so much on the operative side, but to help create the overall framework in cooperation with the EU, the nations, länder and regions. The free movement of labor is essential in order to obtain flexibility in both the private and the public sector. The labor market will change dramatically over the next decades and that will influence both the cooperation with the EU and in STRING.
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PICTURE: www.fehmern.dk
For further information, please contact Jacob Vestergaard STRING Managing Director Alléen 15
4180 Sorø Denmark
+ 45 2082 3459
[email protected]
Rebecca Rosenquist Project Coordinator Alléen 15
4180 Sorø Denmark
+ 45 2494 3887
[email protected]
STRING is the political cross-border partnership between Hamburg and Schleswig- Holstein in Germany, the Capital Region of Denmark and Region Zealand in Denmark, and Region Skåne in Sweden. Our vision is that the STRING region will be the driver behind a North European green growth corridor consisting of the STRING region in a functional partnership with our neighbouring regions. The corridor will be a green European powerhouse; a strong strategic axis contributing to knowledge, growth, welfare, and sustainability in Northern Europe, including the Baltic Sea Region.
SEPTEMBER 2012
www.stringnetwork.org
